After a little playing around, I confirmed that a certain iOS 5 bug leads to an unlock. Note, this will only work on GSM models. I’m going to figure out CDMA models next. Basically, you’ll need a GSM iPhone 4S, an AT&T SIM card, and a T-Mobile Micro SIM. Also, you could actually mess up your cellular radio doing this, though its very unlikely.

While this workaround seems like a hit or miss, it also seems to have worked for many people.

Apple sells the GSM iPhone 4S unlocked in the US for the full retail starting price of $649. Keep in mind that, although unlocking does free you from AT&T’s clutches, the iPhone can only use T-Mobile’s slower EDGE network in the US.

Update: It appears that this unlock may only be temporary. According to MuscleNerd, unlock expert for the iPhone Dev Team: “Unfortunately it’ll just relock again once a new TMSI is required (various normal network operations require TMSI refresh)”

do you need a working T Mobile Microsim? or just any tmobile micro sim?

Ralphchops

Will this work for the uk networks

Jdsonice

Does this work with iPhone4 on iOS 5.0.1?

David Sangwell

How on earth did someone stumble upon this!

Drewstone

well, given ONLY a micro sim will fit in a iphone 4s, ill let u make that determination

Punkxinxdrublic

Here’s danielscaleb’s success story:”After a little playing around, I confirmed that a certain iOS 5 bug leads to an unlock. Note, this will only work on GSM models. I’m going to figure out CDMA models next. Basically, you’ll need a GSMiPhone 4S, an AT&T SIM card, and a T-Mobile Micro SIM. Also, you could actually mess up your cellular radio doing this, though its very unlikely.”ummmm, Daniel Caleb dude, iPhone 4S’s are all the same, GSM and CDMA. So if this works for the “GSM” model then it works for the “CDMA” model. Don’t need to make pointless extra work for yourself.

Punkxinxdrublic

“ummmm, Daniel Caleb dude, iPhone 4S’s are all the same, GSM and CDMA. So if this works for the “GSM” model then it works for the “CDMA” model. Don’t need to make pointless extra work for yourself.

freighttrain2126

will it stay unlocked, or will a restore or upgrade relock the phone?

Treyzeinert1984

Never hurts trying

Jmaliz

Does it work for canadian carriers?

Doug Dolde

Now that you’ve published this, how long do you think it will take for Apple to exterminate that bug ?

Fcs132

Give it a few weeks, iOS 5.0.2

Redmanxi

I would like to say that reading these comments makes me think this community is very unaware of the current iPhone 4s and jb’ing/unlocking all together. All iPhone 4s’s are the same. Now technically the i4s will work on any 3G network in the world but no one has figured this out for the unlocked tmo ones in the states yet (that I have found).

cadsii

This dosnt work u obviously didn’t try it yourself before posting this guide

It makes no sense

Step 13 eject simStep 14 u will get a activation screen

U don’t get that screen unless u put IN a sim I’ve been trying for 2 hours don’t waste ur time guys

Phill Pafford

iPhone 4?

malik4life

i have been trying for the past 2 hours as well…… as soon as i put my tmobile sim card in it the apple logo flashes, it says “activation required” and that is it i get no service, my sim card has data and is active. is there something im missing here?

jayoen

I think he means one that is activated/has an account on it or even ones which aren’t activated.

bored

Not entirely true. The iPhone 4S does not have the frequencies to work on TMobile USA’s 3G or “4G”. TMobile USA’s 3G and “4G” has unique frequencies that are used virtually no where else in the world. ATT uses frequencies that are standard throughout the world. This is why it has been such a struggle to get the iPhone on TMobile USA; it needs an additional antenna to work with TMobile USA only, and would otherwise be a useless part/space to all other users worldwide. What I’m curious about – is how difficult it would be to dissect an iPhone, and replace the current antenna with, say, one from a TMobile USA smartphone. It’d be a lot of work, it it’s questionable on whether it would work.. but if anyone knows HOW to do this, it would be an interesting test.

mwrice2011

so….. i bought an iphone 4s from at&t (not unlocked) tried the whole new hacker thing to unlock the phone (calling 611 hanging up etc) and its not unlocking. Do I need the unlocked full price version from at&t?? I need to figure this out before my “trial period” ends ! I want to go back to tmobile and I have a tmobile microsim card

Morris

Didn’t work for me, After ejecting the sim card in step 13, it goes into the home page desktop, not the “Activation Required” screen, when reinserting the sim as in step 15 it goes to “Activation Required” and continues the process again. Tried many times, no good!

Smokey

Oh really? And what sim card would You use if you weren’t activated with AT&T?

About the author

Alex Heath is a journalist and co-host of The CultCast who lives in Lexington, Kentucky . He has been quoted by the likes of the BBC, KRON 4 News, and books like "ICONIC: A Photographic Tribute to Apple Innovation." If you want to pitch a story, share a tip, or just get in touch, additional contact information is available on his personal site. Twitter always works too.

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